Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 16, 2021

Michael Cimino's "Year of the Dragon" (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include new video interview with author Robert Daley; new program with composer David Mansfield; new audio commentary by critic Peter Tonguette; archival audio commentary by the director; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The Polak

Year of the Dragon is essentially a western set in a different era. Mickey Rourke’s detective, Stanley White, is a lot like the many great characters Clint Eastwood played -- a tough loner who isn’t afraid to challenge the bad guys and then fight them on their turf. When he wears his favorite hat, he even looks like a modern cowboy.

The bad guys Stanley wants to fight, however, are damn near impossible to defeat. There are too many of them and they are very well organized. They are also paying a lot of important people in New York City to keep the police away from Chinatown so that they can run their businesses as they wish. Stanley knows who the big bosses that pull all the important strings are, but there is nothing that he can legally do to stop them.

When a young and overly ambitious crime lord (John Lone, The Last Emperor) decides to change the status quo in Chinatown, Stanley concludes that the right time to purge the place and restore order has finally come. However, immediately after his men begin raiding Chinatown he is ordered from above to pull back and reconsider his plan.

At home Stanley is also asked to compromise. His wife (Caroline Kava, Born on the Fourth of July) wants a baby but no longer believes that she and Stanley can be parents -- or at least not while Stanley remains obsessed with his dangerous job. Around the same time, Stanley foolishly falls for a young and very beautiful reporter (Ariane, The King of New York) and further complicates their relationship.

Meanwhile, the rearrangement of powers in Chinatown continues and more blood is spilled on the streets. Thousands of miles away from Chinatown, an important partnership is formed that also threatens to further compromise Stanley’s efforts.

The film is based on the excellent novel by Robert Daley and a script by Oliver Stone, and it was really the first to seriously argue that the Chinese mafia is not only a fact of life, but a cancer that is virtually impossible to contain. It is one of Cimino’s best, oozing tremendous energy and hitting all of its intended targets without ever worrying about being politically correct.

Rourke is at the top of his game here but the supporting cast is equally impressive. Lone looks like a real maniac who would not hesitate to make a deal even with the Devil if it would help him take over the mafia. The beautiful model Ariane is exactly the type of woman that can make a married man leave his family. Kava and Raymond Barry are also perfectly cast for their respective characters. It needs to be said that there are also many non-professional actors whose contribution makes the film look strikingly authentic.

The emphasis on detail is simply extraordinary. In a brand new interview included on this release, Cimino breaks down entire sequences and reveals how they were assembled from footage that was shot in different countries while the reporter’s entire apartment was designed and built at a carefully chosen location so that New York City’s skyline is perfectly captured.

The beautiful orchestral score was composed by David Mansfield, who also collaborated with Cimino on arguably his best film, Heaven's Gate.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Year of the Dragon arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

This is the third release of this great film that I now have in my library. The other two are Carlotta Films' deluxe set and Warner Archive's more recent release.

Like the French release, this release is sourced from the older MGM master, which I think is very good. In fact, I am going to mention upfront that I prefer how a lot of different areas look on the older master because of the manner in which color balance is handled. There is certainly room for minor improvement, but I prefer the color temperature of certain areas and the overall balance as well. Delineation and clarity range from good to very good. However, on the newer master Warner Archive produced there are some darker areas where shadow definition is a tad more convincing. Also, on teh newer master density levels are improved as well. There are no traces of problematic digital anomalies. There are a few areas where highlights could be better managed, but I have done some very careful comparisons between these releases now I still think that the old master hold up really well. The older master has a few white specks that are not present on the newer master. However, there are no distracting age-related imperfection, such as large cuts, marks, warped or torn frames. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, the split the image frame and the black bar below it. Also, when they are turned off, English subtitles automatically appear for the few exchanges in Cantonese.

The 5.1 track is the same one that was used on French release from Carlotta Films. I think that it is excellent. It provides the dynamic intensity that was intended during the mass action scenes and separation is outstanding. I have also done some random tests with the 5.1 track from the recent U.S. release from Warner Archive, but could not hear any notable discrepancies to address in our review.

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introducing Ariane - an exclusive new video essay on model and actress Ariane Koizumi by Chris O'Neill. A section of the essay also offers very interesting information on Michael Cimino's unorthodox choices of leading female actresses. It was produced exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).

• Prince of the City - in this new program, author Robert Daley, who wrote Year of the Dragon, discusses some of his experiences and research in Chinatown in New York and explains all of the material in his book is authentic. Also, there are some very interesting comments about the manner in which the character of Stanley White was crafted (in the novel) as well as his interactions with and impression of Michael Cimino and Oliver Stone (both apparently incredibly disappointing). The program was produced exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• From Heaven to Chinatown - in this new program, composer David Mansfield, who created the original soundtrack for Heaven's Gate, recalls his first encounter with Michael Cimino and their professional relationship (the two collaborated on four films). Mr. Mansfield discusses in great detail the genesis of Year of the Dragon and the important role music plays in the film. The program was produced exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).

• Commentary One - in this new audio commentary, critic Peter Tonguette discusses the evolution of Michael Cimino's cinematic style, the visual composition of Year of the Dragon (and explains why it may very well be the director's most beautiful and elegant film), the different cinematographers the director worked with, the critical reception of the film, the calamity of Heaven's Gate), etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment in 2020.

• Commentary Two - Michael Cimino recorded this audio commentary in 2005. The information that is shared in it covers all major aspects of the the production of Year of the Dragon, the stylistic appearance of the film, its tone, the original material that inspired the film, the existence of triads in America (which was vehemently denied by The New York Times), the nature of the deal between the director and MGM, etc. It is a fantastic commentary.

• Trailer - remastered vintage U.S. theatrical trailer for Year of the Dragon. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage production and promotional materials for Year of the Dragon. With music. (4 min, 1080p).

Year of the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Michael Cimino's Year of the Dragon is one of the landmark American films of the '80s. It is essentially a futuristic western envisioned by a director whose sense of style remains unmatched. I frequently revisit it and the more I see it, the more I find myself agreeing with those who claim that the '80s were the last decade in which American directors were allowed to develop original projects and not worry about the culture of political correctness that would eventually change the industry.

Australian label Via Vision Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Year of the Dragon is sourced from the older MGM master that was initially used for the film's high-definition debut in France, which I like quite a lot. Also, it has a number of very good exclusive new supplemental features, including an eye-opening interview with author Robert Daley, who has a lot to say about the manner his novel was treated, Cimino and the film industry -- and it is not at all flattering -- as well as composer David Mansfield. The release is Region-Free, so fans of Year of the Dragon should not miss it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.